Carefully restored by the IMM Heritage teams in line with original materials, textures, and construction techniques, the Mevlanakapı Police Station has been reintegrated into Istanbul’s historical memory along the city’s walls. Now serving as an important stop along the 7.2-kilometer Land Walls tourism and cultural route, the structure functions as a space for knowledge and interaction, bridging the city’s past with the present.

In the 19th century—an era of transformation for Istanbul’s security system—police stations were built under the newly established Asâkir-i Mansûre-i Muhammediyye army following the disbandment of the Janissary Corps. These stations spread across the city as part of the new security system, with Mevlanakapı Police Station being one of the key buildings constructed to secure the area.

Over time, the building took on various functions; in the 1930s, it served as a residence and underwent some interior modifications. However, after years of abandonment, the police station—with its deteriorating roof and wall structures—remained unused for an extended period.

Thanks to the restoration works carried out by IMM Heritage teams, the building was revived. By adhering to original materials and techniques, the restoration not only preserved the architectural value of Mevlanakapı Police Station, but also re-purposed it as an information point along the city walls route.

As a prominent stop along the 7.2-kilometer cultural route, the building—together with other interventions in Edirnekapı, Silivrikapı, Sulukule, and Mevlanakapı—connects Istanbul’s historic defense line with contemporary urban life.

The library housed within the Visitor Center adds a dimension of research and learning to this heritage route.